7 unusual tips to be wildly successful

7 unusual tips to be wildly successful

While his classmates are still stuck at an IT firm, 23-yr-old Gaurav Munjal is running two start-ups.

What did he do differently?

What makes him click? Find out!

Ten months ago I was working with Directi; and just one year before that I was in college.

I was clearly not one of the most popular guys. The most geeky? Yes! definitely!

But when I go to bed every night now, I am surprised at the things that have happened and how I got to where I am.

Two profitable ventures. One acquisition. All at the age of 23!

I always knew this was going to happen and I always had faith in myself but isn't it ironical that the same batchmates, who used to frown upon me in college, are still stuck at Infosys, and I make the same amount of money just through a Youtube channel that I started in college!

What makes me or any entrepreneur different?

If I had to give my two cents on how to be successful -- well I can't say whether I am successful -- I would say be happy and do what you want because that is what exactly I did.

Of course, I won't be telling you how to build a good product. You have to figure that out yourself.

What are the things that will take you towards success? Here are my two bits:

1. Be shameless

Most people are afraid.

Afraid to do anything unconventional.

Afraid to ask the girl out.

Afraid to write what they feel like.

Afraid to follow their dreams or whatever bulls**t they want to do and then they try to convince themselves with excuses -- 'Oh! I couldn't do it because I was going through a breakup or family event or academics or health or whatever crap.'

I usually had the habit of converting ideas into action.

I learnt this from Richard Branson.

Read his books. And yes, ask that girl out, if you don't ask, the answer will be a hundred per cent no, but if you ask you never know what may happen.

It's good to get some action once in a while, apart from your company which will definitely fry your brains.

Gaurav Munjal is an entrepreneur from Mumbai who started Flat.to after facing accommodation problem during his college years. Previously a developer at Directi, Gaurav loves making educational videos for his Youtube channel Unacademy in his free time. You can follow him on twitter @gauravmunjal.

4. Be a jerk

But an unwillingness to occasionally be one is an almost certain road to failure.

You want some examples? Nah, I will be a jerk and not give any.

But remember, if you are not upsetting someone, you anyway probably aren't doing anything important.

To quote (the British programmer and entrepreneur) Oliver Emberton:

"Most of us fear upsetting the emotions of others. When we upset people, we're compelled to justify ourselves. We yearn to win over our detractors. We seek everyone's approval. And just one criticism among a hundred compliments burns into our brain like a cigarette. That's actually a good sign. It means you're not really a jerk. Just don't be afraid to act like one where it matters."

I would like to quote him here, "At some point, I realised that the best marketing is not outbound it's inbound. After my book was published I was getting paid to get my company promoted and not the other way round."

Hats off to you Varun. And it doesn't matter if your social skills are not good or you are an introvert.

In fact the one thing I have realised is that developers make for the best sales people too, because they know what they are building inside out, you cannot compare the passion they have with others.

And yes, find at least one person who will pay for what you have built even before you build it.